# 3.2. Linux: Installing RPMs for RedHat, Caldera and SuSE.

Using RPMs is the easiest method to get KDE up and running. Just visit your favorite KDE mirror and visit the directory /pub/kde/stable/distribution/rpm. There, you can see directories for different operating systems. Currently, the i386, alpha and sparc architectures are supported. The rpm packages can also be found on the Red Hat contrib sites like sunsite.unc.edu or ftp.redhat.com.

The basic system consists of the files kde-(component).(architecture).rpm You need at least kdesupport, kdelibs and kdebase. After getting the base distribution, feel free to download any other rpms that you think may come in handy.

Next, start installing with the base package. If you are installing KDE for the first time, use

     rpm -i kdesupport.arch.rpm
     rpm -i kdelibs.arch.rpm
     rpm -i kdebase.arch.rpm

NOTE: It is important that these components are installed in the order listed, and that they are installed before any other KDE component.

If you are upgrading from a previous release, try

     rpm -Uvh kde-component.arch.rpm

Once again, the order given above should be preserved, and the given components should be installed before any other KDE components.

This will unpack the base distribution and install it in /opt/kde. If the installation of the base packages has been successful, you can install the remaining packages (use -Uvh instead of -i once again to update an existing version) the same way.